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Meet Your Tour Guide: Allie

My name is Allie. I want to help bridge the gap between science and people. Scientists are often on the front lines of communicating current research to public audiences. With their knowledge and credibility they are able to dispel false information and misconceptions - which often finds its way into  public discussion. Effective science communication provides the public with a better understanding about topics ranging from health to environment.  As a result, society benefits as a whole. Unfortunately, scientists often lack the training to effectively communicate science to non-scientists. Researchers used to rely on conferences and papers to communicate their science, but now the conversation has moved outside of these two forms of communication. Now it is important for scientists to know how to create meaningful online conversations and connections with scientists and the wider public in a way that wasn’t possible before. My goal is to inform, educate  and rai...
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What’s hidden away in Museums


In museums across the globe, really amazing artifacts and specimens are concealed from public view. Why aren’t you able to view them? Simply put, there is no space to show them in the front of the house. As it was noted in my previous blog post,  a museum is a facility that  holds the world’s memory and culture. A lack of space is inevitable. But what happens to the artifacts and specimens that are in the back of the house?

They are left in the hands of collection managers. Collection managers are responsible for the preservation of artifacts and specimens in the back of the house.  How do they preserve specimen? At natural history museums, specimens are preserved by submerging and storing them in fluid chemicals. This technique  has been used since the 17th century. There are three parts to this process:

First they “fix” the specimen. They do this, by injecting it with chemicals. These chemicals stop the decomposing and decaying process.The most frequent chemical used for this is formalin. It is a mixture of formaldehyde and water solution. After that, they submerge the specimens in a glass jar or bottle full of fluid preserve. Fluid preserve is usually alcohol,  either ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.If the specimens are really big - tanks are used as a container for the specimen.


Then, the specimen is placed in something like this:


Not all specimens need to be fixed before being submerged in the fluid preserve. Usually, Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), aquatic invertebrates (mollusks, crustaceans, etc.) and Ichthyology (fish) are the most common animals to be preserved in fluid .

Even though, fixing the specimen and preserving it in fluid chemically alters it (this can cause discoloration, shrinking, or swelling of the specimen)  With this process, specimens are able to be preserved for hundreds of years.

Collections managers are also in charge of the physical care of museum collections. They manage the cataloging, shipping, storage, and legal duties of the specimen.This includes keeping track of the temperature and humidity levels of the rooms, pest threats and cleaning routines.

It should be noted that I am speaking in regards to the Natural History museums. Art and other  museums may have a different process. Every museum has the responsibility of  storing, protecting, preserving and caring for ALL the specimens.





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